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Government axes funding for climate initiative

Ben Cubby, Environment Reporter

A CLIMATE change program that has helped hundreds of local councils reduce their greenhouse gas emissions has been axed by the Federal Government.

The Cities for Climate Protection program will wind up on June 30, saving the Government the relatively tiny amount of about $4 million a year.

The program had offered a big bang for its buck, helping to stop the release of the equivalent of 4.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide last year, by running a non-profit group of experts who advised local councils.

As a direct result of the program, many local governments have switched to more energy efficient lights and installed solar panels on public buildings. Councils say they may now have to turn to private firms that undertake carbon audits at greater cost and less reliability.

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The Government said it had been discussing shutting the program down for some time, unless it could become more financially self-sufficient. The funding will be wrapped into the Climate Change Action Fund on the recommendation of the Wilkins review into climate change funding.

But staff working on the project said the decision came out of the blue on the day the federal budget was released. Councils were also concerned.

"We urge the Federal Government to work with councils to develop a co-ordinated program that provides us with continual support," said the president of the NSW Local Government Association, Genia McCaffery.

The Government said the need for carbon audits had lessened now that 86 per cent of councils had greenhouse reduction targets in place.

A spokesman for the Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, said councils could apply for funding from the Climate Change Action Fund.

The NSW Greens said the move would damage grassroots actions to reduce emissions.

"While the National Clean Coal Fund is set to receive $366 million over the next four years, support for local government transformation is to be abruptly slashed at the end of next month," said NSW Greens MP John Kaye.